Mayatenango Tour : The Mayas in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras

Overview

This program requires a minimun of 4 travellers together

Day 01: Depart for Guatemala City – Antigua

Board your flight to Guatemala City. On arrival in Guatemala City you will be transferred to your hotel in Antigua. Rest at leisure. Antigua is among the world’s best conserved colonial cities in the Americas. It is a magic and captivating small town that makes you feel time might have stopped 300 years ago. From its colonial architecture to its beautiful surroundings; strolling through town on the cobblestone streets, you will experience the splendors of ancient times! A few things you will find are art galleries and exhibits, coffee shops, amazing cuisine, cute little bars and much more.

[x] Breakfast [x] Lunch [Y] Dinner

Day 02: walking Antigua city tour – Coffee Tour

After breakfast enjoy a guided walking tour of Antigua city. You will visit breathtaking colonial monuments and find out why this city was the bustling center of the region for the Spaniards. This walking tour will take in the main highlights of this ancient city, from the hustle and bustle of the atmospheric Central Park to the secret passageways of the many crumbling colonial convents and churches similar to the antique Cathedral, the Municipal Government Building, and the Palace of the Captains General; colonial churches and monasteries. After lunch visit to Coffee Plantation for your Coffee Tour. you will learn bout the process, from picking the grain to have it ready to serve. Later return back to Antigua for overnight stay.

[Y] Breakfast [Y] Local Lunch [Y] Local Dinner

Day 03: Lake Atitlán

Breakfast visit to Lake Atitlan with three stunning volcanoes Atitlan, San Pedro, and Toliman rising out of its emerald surface. Lake Atitlan is located 144km west of Guatemala City. It is characterized by its natural beauty surrounded by gorgeous views of the volcanoes and indigenous villages filled with culture. Overnight stay at Lake Atitlan.

Day 04: Santiago Atitlan – Village Tour – Lake Atitlán

Today after breakfast meet your local guide to your boat transfer to Santiago and San Juan. Along the shores of Lake Atitlan, you may find different towns, each of these villages is named after the twelve apostles. Santiago (St.James), is a village located on the south end, home to Maximon, a pagan saint who drinks moonshine and smokes cigars. Maximon is visited every day by locals, healers, and tourists asking for favors. San Juan la Laguna, is famous for its naïf art galleries, town murals and natural dyes and textiles. This town is set as an example of an organization and tourism destination among the highlands. Its beauty and cooperatives have set the perfect village. At San Juan, you will enjoy a cultural tour with all the local families. Lunch at local restaurant. Boat transfer back to your hotel. Dinner at local venue. Overnight accommodations at hotel.

Day 05: Lake Atitlán – Ataco (El Salvador)

After breakfast, meet with your guide and transfer to Ataco (El Salvador). Salvador offers three general regions, a narrow Pacific coastal belt, a central plateau, which is almost surrounded by active volcanoes, and the northern lowlands, formed by the wide Lempa River Valley. On route stop for Local lunch on the way to Ataco.

Day 06: Ataco – Joya de Ceren

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet with your driver for your transfer to Joya de Ceren. On our journey, we visit the archaeological site of Joya de Ceren, which was declared world heritage by UNESCO in 1993 for being the only location in the whole Maya culture where you can appreciate the day-to-day living styles of the popular pre-Columbian inhabitants. “Joya de Ceren”, was a village, not a ceremonial site, and was buried by several eruptions of volcanoes and the village lies under 14 layers of ash. For this reason, the village has been very well preserved. The villagers were apparently able to escape in time as no bodies have been found, although they left behind utensils, ceramics, furniture, and even half-eaten food in their haste to escape. The site is full of architectural remains, grouped into compounds that include civic, religious and household buildings. All structures are made of earth and important features like thatch roofs and artefacts found in-situ have been recovered. Lunch at Lake Coatepeque. After tour transfer back Ataco. Day at leisure or take an optional tour.

Optional Afternoon Tour: You will visit the ‘flower route’, famous, as its name implies, for its dramatic abundance of wild flowers. This region has beautiful panoramic views of the mountainside coffee plantations, lagoons, and dense cloud forests. You travel to Nahuizalco, one of the most traditional towns in the area. The people here are famous for their handicrafts and furniture made from tulle and willow. Head up the mountain to Salcoatitán, located at a little over 3,412 feet (1,040 meters). This was the place where the first coffee plantations in the country were planted in the 1860s. The area is also famous for the large number of craft shops. Last visit the town of Ataco; becoming a door for all the artistic community, it’s traditional producing of colorful textiles and the artistic murals painted on the walls of the colonial style houses. Check out the looms where they demonstrate how they make still colorful textiles.

Day 07: Joya de Ceren – Copan (Honduras)

After breakfast meet with your guide for your transfer to Copan, Honduras. Copan is a charming village, with colored and whitewashed walls, tile roofs, iron balconies and cobblestone streets. You will find very warm and hospitable people. Economically, the region relies on livestock, coffee, tobacco, tea, and of course, tourism. There are a few coffee shops, restaurants, and museums of the archaeological ruins. Enjoy lunch on your way to Copan. Rest of the day at leisure

Day 08: Copan Ruins to Rio Dulce – Livingston (Guatemala)

After breakfast, meet with your guide for your transfer to Copan Ruins Site. Copan is known as the Paris of the Mayan archaeological sites. Located between beautiful valleys, Copan is famous for its elaborate and detailed styles. This city has a special history, architecture, astronomy and art. Today, the site is one of the best-restored, interesting and elaborate Maya cities known. Copan features some of the Mayas most impressive accomplishments in architecture, in astronomy, and in sheer civic organization. Lunch at site. After the tour transfer to Rio Dulce. At your arrival boat transfer to Livingston.

Day 09: Rio Dulce Boat Tour – Livingston – Flores

After breakfast enjoy Rio Dulce Boat Tour. While navigating the Rio Dulce (sweet river) you will cross through “EL Golfete”, the wider are of the river in which the Chocon Machaca park and the floating gardens are located. Along the way, you will also stop at Ak’Tenamit, a local cooperative that has been able to assist the village in education and medical services through sustainable methods. Between “El Golfete” and Livingston, starts an impressive canyon with walls of jungle and limestone. The tour ends at Livingston, the only town in Guatemala in which the Garifunas settled in the 1800s. It has a unique ambiance that you won’t find anywhere else in the country. Laid-back and relaxed, Livingston will remind you more of a Caribbean island than of Latin America. Lunch at a local venue. Transfer to Flores for overnight stay.

Day 10: YAXHA Tikal National Park

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Yaxha Archeological site. Located approximately 30km (18.6 miles) southeast of Tikal and 75km from Flores. This site is better known by the CBS reality show “Survivor” filmed in 2005. Yaxha (emerald green water) is an important ceremonial center located between the lagoons of Yaxha and Sacnab. This site has over 500 structures including 40 stelea, two ball courts and nine temple pyramids. Structures at Yaxha show the influence of Teotihuacan and include the only twin pyramid complex outside Tikal. Lunch at local venue.

Day 11: TIKAL Flight to Guatemala City

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and transfer you to Tikal National Park. Your guide will show you the layout of the temples, architecture, history, some theories of why the Mayans disappeared and if you are lucky a few monkeys, parrots, macaws and toucans will be on site. After the tour, enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the middle of the jungle. Rest of the day at leisure.

. Transfer to Mundo Maya for your flight to Guatemala City. At your arrival meet with your driver for your transfer to the Local venue and hotel. Overnight accommodations at hotel.

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast, depending on your time of your return flight, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward destination flight.

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What you see:

• Guatemala City
• La Antigua Guatemala (UNESCO Heritage)
• Lake Atitlan, Santiago Atitlan
• San Juan, Flores
• Tikal National Park (UNESCO Heritage)
• Chichicastenango Market
• Yaxha Archeological site.
• Livingston (Guatemala)
• Rio Dulce – Lake El Golfete
• Flores
• Atacot (El Salvador)
• Archaeological site of Joya de Ceren
• Lake Coatepeque
• Copan Ruins – Mayan archaeological Site, (Honduras)

Includes:

• 11 nights accommodation 4-star hotels
• Breakfast
• Entrances to all excursions as per the itinerary
• One internal flights included
• Transportation by executive coaches
• Premium services of Bi–lingual Sona Tours Director
• Tips to guides and drivers included

Excludes:

• Other meals, drink
• Travel insurance
• Personal Laundry, beverages and other personal expenses
• Other services not listed in inclusive item

Some places Indian dinner may not be provided but alternative Vegetarian Dinner.